Slang Questionnaire

[MindStorm]

Hello everybody. My name is Yevhen. I write my Master's paper on the usage of proper names as slang words. Your help will be appreciated. Please, take a few minutes to answer the following questions......

The questionnaire is in attachment

Thanks for you help. Please, send you answers to mindstorm@ukr.net

You should choose the questionnaire depending upon your country

[MindStorm]

The usage of proper names as slang words.

VERY short questionnaire

Country:
State:
Sex:
Age:

1.Do you often use slang words?
a)often
b)rarely
c)never

2.Do you often use proper names as slang words?
a)Yes, I definitely use them
b)I never use them. There is no need to…

3.Tick off the words you use in your everyday speech.
If you can not find the words you use in this list, please, write your favorite:*
Adam
Charlie
Betsy
Eyetie
John Roscoe
Uncle Ned
Canuck
John
Agouraphobia
Judy
Maccy D's
Nip
Uncle Tom
Aussie
Kraut
Barney
Sharon and Tracy
Circus
Jack
Gunchester
Marks and Sparks
Joey
Amerika
Chink
Windy city
Barney
Aunt Flo
Jimmy
Batman and Robin
Sally
McGyver
Baldwin
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
4.Match the following names of groups with the slang words from question #3. Put the appropriate number of the group next to the slang word that can be suitable. Many variants possible.
1. Names, surnames, nicknames;
2. Names of countries and certain areas (cities, famous places, buildings);
3. Nicknames of nations (often offensive);
4. Names and nicknames of brands;
5. Rhyming slang (proper names that are used in slang for rhyming; so-called rhyming slang): e.g. Oliver Twist—fist; Gloria Gaynors—trainers.

If you think there are no good examples for each group, please, provide them yourself

5. Please, write your thoughts on this topic; everything that can be useful for our investigation: _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________ ______________


Thanks for your help.

[.,,]

G'day MindStorm,
Aussie
Vic
Male
50

1. a What is language with no slang. A dictionary talking.

2. I do not understand 'proper names'. If you mean given name or christian names then no, I do not. There is no need.
My lingo is replete with more idiomatic sayings than you can poke a stick at so if I require descriptives I simply fall back into jargon or argot or rhyming slang like 'china' for 'friend' thus indicating friendlieness and understanding of the equality of humanity.
I consider that using given names as descriptives can be fraught with danger as for all I know the cobber I am shooting the breeze with has a favourite aunt named Ruth or best mate named Charlie and everybody in Australia knows many a Bruce and not all operate the sheepdip while teaching logical positivitism.

3.
Adam - No.
Charlie - No.
Betsy - No.
Eyetie - NO! Offensive and derrogatory and meaningless.
John Roscoe - No.
Uncle Ned - No.
Canuck - Yes. Perhaps monthly. No meaning other than Canadian.
John - No.
Agouraphobia - No. A word for shrinks.
Judy - No.
Maccy D's - No.
Nip - NO! Very offensive!! Australia is too closely associated with Japanese people to suffer the use of this word.
Uncle Tom - Absolutely not under any circumstances unless my earlobes were nailed to a wall.
Aussie - Yup. At least daily on the net.
Kraut - You must be kidding??
Barney - A blue or fight. Maybe twice a year.
Sharon and Tracy - No.
Circus - Yes. Not often.
Jack - Yes. Many desciptives. A very useful word.
Gunchester - No.
Marks and Sparks - No.
Joey - Yes. A young kid or child or baby roo or wallaby. Joey is a reasonably common Aussie nickname and is awarded for many reasons.
Amerika - No. Faintly offensive. If I wish to offend Americans I have much more useful words at my disposal.
Chink - NO! Not ever. See Nip. Most Aussies can not tell the difference betrween a Nip and a Chink so we aviod both words like the bigoted terms they are.
Windy city - No.
Barney - Been there, done that.
Aunt Flo - No. Only heard that from an anal American. I got a shirtful of sore ribs.
Jimmy - Yes.
Batman and Robin - No.
Sally - Very rarely to describe a member of The Salvation Army. Neutral.
McGyver - No.
Baldwin - No.

.,,

[RonBee]

I write my Master's paper on the usage of proper names as slang words. Your help will be appreciated.

Say:

I am writing my Master's thesis on the usage of proper names as slang words. Your help would be appreciated.

~R

[Casiopea]

I agree with everything you said, except for this:

Aunt Flo - No. Only heard that from an anal American.

Anal, Really?

In North American, it's a euphemism for menstration; e.g., Aunt Flo's here today with a mighty vengence, so I'm going to stay home and take it easy.

[RonBee]

I agree with everything you said, except for this: Anal, Really?

In North American, it's a euphemism for menstration; e.g., Aunt Flo's here today with a mighty vengence, so I'm going to stay home and take it easy.

It's probably because I am not female, but I had never heard that one before. (I bet there are a lot of them. )

~R